Crown Princess Cruise Ship Returns to Sailing After Dry Dock

(3:10 p.m. EDT) -- Crown Princess has returned to service after an extensive 10-day April dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas. Part of the line's "Come Back New Promise" that will see more than $450 million invested in the fleet, the refurb saw the Salty Dog Grill, Club Class Mini Suites and the Camp Discovery Youth & Teen Center added to Crown Princess, among other additions and enhancements.

"Crown Princess first debuted in 2006 with several industry-first offerings, including our revered adults-only Sanctuary," said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. "Now, 12 years later, we're continuing our commitment to offer Crown Princess guests the next evolution of signature Princess product innovations."

Among the changes, four top-deck outdoor dining offerings were revitalized and renamed.

The Salty Dog Grill: This upscale poolside grill replaces the ship's previous Trident Grill. Here cruisers can indulge in a variety of burgers or choose from the Street Taco menu made with grilled chipotle-lime chicken or roasted sweet potato-green chili. For an extra fee, diners can select "The Ernesto" burger, from Chef Ernesto Uchimura. Fries come loaded with chili cheese or bacon and cheese and classic hot dogs are also on the menu.

Slice: The former Prego Pizzeria was updated and renamed Slice. New menu items include deep dish Focaccia layered with marinara, meatballs and cheese; California artisanal toasts including Cali-Avocado or caprese; and sliced Stromboli, which sees an Italian calzone filled with deli meats and cheese.

The Mix: This poolside bar, previously known as Mermaid's Tale, was refreshed during the refurb.

Another big change was the addition of the line's new Club Class Mini-Suites, a new premium stateroom category that takes the ship's junior suites and layers on several included perks, such as Club Class Dining, a reserved dining room with expedited seating and expanded options.

Still undergoing a refurb are the onboard kids' facilities. The reimagined youth center, now called Camp Discovery, was designed in partnership with the Discovery TV channel and will offer spaces and activities that provide educational, but fun, enrichment. The transformation of the spaces should be complete by early summer.

Crown Princess also received the line's highly touted Princess Luxury Bed, and signature logo on its bow, while the boutiques, casino and Lotus Spa & Fitness Center were upgraded.

The ship will spend the summer sailing in the Mediterranean before repositioning to the Caribbean for the fall and winter season.